Golden Axe

Golden Axe, known in Japan as 戦斧 [Sen Ono], "Battle Axe" is a fantasy beat-em-up by Sega, originally released for the arcade in 1989, but then ported to many other platforms. This was the first title in the series which has spawned several more games.

I was in awe of the game when I first saw it in the arcades in the late 1980s because I loved high fantasy movies. Tyris' fantastic fire spirit magic (which reminds me of the ghost from Raiders of the Lost Ark) in the attract was amazing. However, when I finally got quarters and played the game, I learned how unfair it is, and I became disenchanted. This really became apparent when, at my cousin's birthday at a Little Caesars children's restaurant (back when they still existed, circa 1990), several kids at the party were given quarters, and we collectively dumped about $20 in before finally beating the game. This game was also present at a Evangelical Christian summer camp I attended, but the pastors kept unplugging it because they felt it was evil, but most of the kids would plug it back in to play it.

Contents

Status

I have beaten the game on the Genesis arcade mode at hard difficulty with a strength of 62.9.

Review

Overall: 3/10

Best Version: Arcade

Good

For the time, the backgrounds are very detailed and attractive, the sprites are well-drawn and animated, the music is memorable, and the sound effects are great, especially the screams.

The added graphics for beating up enemies (cracking them over the head, kicking them, tossing them, etc.) is a nice addition.

The magic animations are amazing!

Letting the player knock enemies off their dragons and steal them was a great addition.

I find joy in kicking the gnomes to steal their magic and food, probably because of their annoying giggle.

The game's ending is hilariously cheesy.

The Genesis port adds an additional final level after you defeat Death Adder.

Bad

Player control is pretty poor. Players are left with only a few means of attack (weapon, charge, jump-attack, and roll) and evasion (walk, run, jump), the charge and roll are not obvious, and roll is difficult to pull off.

Becoming good at the game requires you to play it non-thematically. Using the simple weapon-swinging attack will get you surrounded and killed pretty quickly, so you have to rely heavily on the roll, charge, and jump attacks. This makes the game look silly and seem like more of a "press the right buttons at the right time" type of game than a heroic adventure.

Most of the ports take a serious hit to the graphics and sound, especially the 8-bit computer ports. The Genesis is pretty close, and mercifully allows you to add more health or play on easier difficulties.

The Genesis ending lacks the funny run through the arcade, but it's nice to see the cast and credits.

The final boss fight in the Genesis port is a pain in the ass. Two invincible skeletons and Death Bringer, who can cast unlimited spells. It basically requires you to hop around like mad trying to whack everyone to the ground before another spell goes off.

None of the releases have decent box art.

Ax Battler has a stupid name.

Ugly

Enemies unfairly have an attack advantage over the player when they first stand up, or when the player is knocked down. This was no doubt added to make the game harder to require more quarters to win, but it results in a great deal of frustration for the player who wants to beat the game fairly.

Media

Box Art

Arcade cabinet, North America. Just looks like clip art.

Arcade marquee. I like the layout, but the art is too primitive.

Genesis, North & South America. The layout is great, but the characters are all a little odd looking, and none of them match the game.

Mega Drive, Japan, Europe, Australia, South Korea. Looks more like a warning posted for steroid abuse. One body builder has a little boy's head, the other has a wizened old man's head. At least they got the colors and weapons right. But damn, those blue bikini bottoms! Different regions used minor graphic differences.

PCs, Europe. This one also has a good layout, but the people look messed up. The giant and the woman's axe is accurate, but Ax Battler has the face of a hard-boiled detective.

PCs, America. First of all, that's not an axe, it's a halberd, second, the barbarian wields a sword, third, why did he let his kid draw bear claws on his pecks?

Master System, Europe. Seriously, what's up with his face? And of all the things to copy off the European Mega Drive cover, they went with the blue bikini bottom?

PC Engine CD, Japan. Probably the best cover because it doesn't have a horribly painted barbarian on it.

The Japanese PS2 remake. Although the characters are given a child-like anime look, the art is really good.

Japanese WonderSwan Color. Fantastic idea and color, but the characters all look a little wonky.